Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sardar udai siNgh shaa’eq (1895-1987) fariidkoT. He practiced as a lawyer in fariidkoT, home of sufi baba fariid, and was active in the mushaa’era circuit around paTiala, amritsar and dehli. His collection was published in 1968. This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef (‘ki baat kareN’-not exactly the same but similar radeef) Ghazal on the Refrain page.
1
ishq ki aur ishq ke aazaar¹ ki baateN kareN
vo kabhi aa’eN to qalb²-e zaar³ ki baateN kareN   1.pain, sorrow 2.heart 3.weeping, sorrowful
It is not specific who the poet is addressing. He may be addressing the world in general or he may be talking to fellow lovers who suffer the same fate as he does and who sympathize with each other. Thus, O friends, let us talk about love and the pain/sorrow of love. If she ever comes, then we can talk about the sorrowful heart.
2
KhashmagiiN¹ nazreN² sunaa’eN mujh ko paiGhaam³-e visaal⁴
parda⁵-e inkaar⁶ meN eqraar⁷ ki baateN kareN  1.angry 2.glances 3.message 4.union 5.veil 6.refusal, denial 7.acceptance, agreement
Angry glances convey the message of union (with the beloved). Let us talk of how from behind the veil/pretense of denial the beloved actually agrees to accept my love.
3
qissa¹-e husn²-e azal³ to aasmaani cheez hai
ab zara sansaar⁴ meN sansaar ki baateN kareN  1.story 2.beauty 3.eternal 4.world
The story of eternal beauty is a celestial thing. In this world, let us talk about the affairs of the world i.e., not about eternal (divine) beauty, but the beauty of the beloved.
4
karobaari¹-e ishq ke jaadu² yahaaN chalte nahiN
ye mohabbat hai rasan³ ki daar⁴ ki baateN kareN   1.affairs, (implied) superficiality 2.trickery 3.rope 4.hanging platform
Superficial declarations of love will not do the trick here i.e., it will not work. This is love, let us talk of rope and hanging platform i.e., to be successful in love you have to be ready to give up your life.
5
jis ki jumbish¹ se badal² sakti hai taqdiir³-e hayaat⁴
us nigaah⁵-e mahram⁶-e asraar⁷ ki baateN kareN   1.movement 2.change 3.fate 4.life 5.glance 6.familiar with 7.mysteries
A single movement of her eyes can change the fate/life (of the poet/lover). Let us talk of the (beloved’s) glance that is familiar with (is an expert in) the mysteries of glances.
6
jaa chuka ahd¹-e asiiri² aa chuka vaqt³-e najaat⁴
ab qafas⁵ ko phooNk⁶ kar gulzaar⁷ ki baateN kareN  1.duration 2.imprisonment, bondage 3.time of 4.deliverance 5.cage, prison 6.blow away (ashes) 7.garden
This could be about life in this world and the beauty of after-life. The duration in this material world can be considered bondage of the soul. The duration of bondage is coming to an end and the time of deliverance is at hand. Now, let us burn this prison (the body) and blow it in the wind and talk of the garden/paradise (after-life).
7
jii meN aata hai keh pahle jhoom jaa’eN shauq¹ se
phir ijaazat² deN to un se pyaar ki baateN kareN   1.desire, love 2.permission
My heart feels like I should sway joyfully in the intensity of desire (for the beloved) and then if she permits (because she likes my joyful swaying) I can talk to her of love.
8
husn¹ ki jalva-rezi² sub’h-dam³ baala⁴-e baam⁵
aao shaa’eq⁶ us tajalli-zaar⁷ ki baateN kareN  1.beauty, beloved 2.display/show image/picture/beauty 3.dawn 4.head, top 5.roof 6.pen-name of the poet, lover 7.brilliance spreading
The beloved displays her beauty and spreads brilliance. This could apply both to the conventional and the divine beloved. O shaa’eq look at the display of beauty of the beloved on the roof top at dawn. Let us talk of the beloved who spreads brilliance all around.